Reports and Resources

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The Colorado Climate Change Vulnerability Study

February 5, 2015

Western Water Assessment, in collaboration with Colorado State University, conducted a broad study of climate vulnerability for the state of Colorado. Drawing from existing data and peer-reviewed research, the study summarizes the key challenges facing seven sectors: ecosystems, water, agriculture, energy, transportation, outdoor recreation and tourism, and public health.

The Great American Adaptation Road Trip

February 2, 2015

After visiting more than 30 communities preparing for climate change across the United States, the Georgetown Climate Center released a report identifying six big lessons from ongoing adaptation work across the country.

Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery: Next Generation

January 15, 2015

The American Planning Association's Hazards Planning Center worked with FEMA to develop Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery: Next Generation. This updated manual offers a no-nonsense explanation of the benefits and limitations of planning for unpredictable events.

The Colorado Climate Change Vulnerability Study

Western Water Assessment, in collaboration with Colorado State University, conducted a broad study of climate vulnerability for the state of Colorado. Drawing from existing data and peer-reviewed research, the study summarizes the key challenges facing seven sectors: ecosystems, water, agriculture, energy, transportation, outdoor recreation and tourism, and public health.

NOAA Fisheries has released a draft Climate Science Strategy for public comment that identifies 7 steps to increase the production & use of climate-related information; proposes actions to address common needs across regions and agency mandates; and aims to help reduce impacts and increase resilience of marine resources and the communities that depend on them. It is open for comment until March 31, 2015.

Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery: Next Generation

The American Planning Association's Hazards Planning Center worked with FEMA to develop Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery: Next Generation. This updated manual offers a no-nonsense explanation of the benefits and limitations of planning for unpredictable events.

Researchers Offer New Insights Into Predicting Future Droughts in California

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

In response to the President's Executive Order 13653, a NOAA-led U.S. federal agency partnership released the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit to provide tools, information, & scientific expertise to help communities & businesses build resilience to climate-related impacts & extreme events.

Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report

This new Synthesis Report from the IPCC summarizes the contents of 5 studies released over the past year. These studies confirm that climate change caused by human activities is having impacts on ecosystems and human well-being across the U.S. and around the world.

Explaining Extreme Events of 2013 from a Climate Perspective

A new report from the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, "Explaining Extreme Events of 2013 from a Climate Perspective," addresses the causes of 16 individual extreme events that occurred on four continents.

Navigating to New Shores: Seizing the Future for Sustainable & Resilient U.S. Freshwater Resources

Based on 6 years of work, The Johnson Foundation examines challenges associated with quality, availability, & resilience of U.S. freshwater resources due to climate change, aging infrastructure, & extreme events.

Enhancing the Climate Resilience of America's Natural Resources

The Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience has released a report outlining four strategies to help make our natural resources more resilient to climate change, and documenting progress and providing roadmaps for action.

Better Growth, Better Climate: The New Climate Economy Report

A new report released by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate concludes that rapid innovation and new investment in infrastructure are making it possible to tackle climate change while also improving economic performance.

Reducing Coastal Risk on the East and Gulf Coasts

This new National Research Council report reviews coastal risk-reduction strategies and levels of protection that have been used along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts to reduce the impacts of flooding associated with storm surges. The report evaluates their effectiveness in terms of economic return, protection of life safety, and minimization of environmental effects.

The Georgetown Climate Center has released a report outlining 100 recommendations to help improve federal programs and their ability to prepare for climate change. The new report--Preparing Our Communities for Climate Impacts: Recommendations for Federal Action--will inform the White House's State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience.

NJADAPT

NJADAPT is a collaborative effort consisting of scientists and data managers in academia, government, the private sector, and the NGO community who have developed a strategic plan for a New Jersey platform to host and apply climate science and impacts data. This effort has been supported by the New Jersey Recovery Fund, the New Jersey Coastal Management Program, and NOAA.

Water and Climate Change Adaptation: Policies to Navigate Uncharted Waters

This report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development provides a risk-based approach to achieve resilient water security in a changing climate, documents key trends and highlights best practice from the OECD Survey of Policies on Water and Climate Change Adaptation, and examines options to improve the flexibility of water governance, policy, & financing approaches.

2013's Billion Dollar Weather & Climate Disasters

According to NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, the United States saw nine climate and weather disaster events, each with losses exceeding $1 billion in damages during 2013. These events included a drought event, two flooding events, and six severe storm events. Overall, these events resulted in the deaths of 113 people and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted. NCDC is the nation's scorekeeper in terms of placing extreme climate and weather events into historical perspective in this series of annual reports, dating back to 1980.

Climate Change in Colorado

The Climate Change in Colorado report is a synthesis of climate science relevant for management and planning for Colorado's water resources. The report--produced by the Western Water Assessment, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and the University of Colorado Boulder--focuses on observed climate trends, climate modeling, and projections of temperature, precipitation, snowpack, and streamflow.

State of the Climate in 2013

On July 17, NOAA and the American Meteorological Society released the State of the Climate in 2013 report. A 24-year tradition encompassing the work of 425 authors from 57 countries, the report uses dozens of climate indicators to track patterns, changes, & trends of the global climate system.

Reducing Climate-Sensitive Disease Risks

This new report from the World Bank focuses on livestock diseases that are sensitive to climate change. The report aims to help practitioners reduce the risks of key climate-sensitive infectious diseases by strengthening risk management systems for disease outbreaks.

Proposed EPA Plan Would Cut Emissions From Power Plants By 30%

On June 2, the EPA announced the Clean Power Plan. Under the Clean Air Act and President Obama's Climate Action Plan, the proposed plan would cut carbon pollution from existing power plants, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

Climate-Smart Conservation: Putting Adaption Principles into Practice

This new report by the National Wildlife Federation looks at how climate change is affecting the nation’s wildlife & habitats, & addresses how natural resource managers need to prepare for and adapt to these unprecedented changes.

National Climate Assessment Released

The third National Climate Assessment, released May 6, provides an in-depth look at climate change impacts on the U.S both now and into the future. It details the multitude of ways climate change is already affecting and will increasingly affect the lives of Americans.

First Federal Ocean Acidification Strategic Plan Released

The Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification, of which EPA is a participating agency, has recently released the "Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification."

The Plan will guide research and monitoring investments that will improve our understanding of ocean acidification, its potential impacts on marine species and ecosystems, and adaptation and mitigation strategies. Highlights of the Plan's research goals include: improve existing observing systems that monitor chemical and biological effects of ocean acidification and document trends; undertake laboratory and field research to examine the physiological, behavioral, and evolutionary adaptive capacities of selected species and complexes of species; develop comprehensive models to predict changes in the ocean carbon cycle and effects on marine ecosystems and organisms; develop vulnerability assessments for various carbon dioxide emissions scenarios; and, assess the cultural, subsistence, and economic effects of ocean acidification.

NOAA Releases Arctic Action Plan

Climate change is making the Arctic a greener, warmer, and increasingly accessible place for economic opportunity. However, climate impacts such as sea ice loss and rising ocean acidification are straining coastal community resilience and sound resource stewardship. The NOAA Arctic Action Plan report outlines ways for scientists and stakeholders to share their progress regarding this vast, valuable, and vulnerable region.

A new report led by the University of Colorado Boulder summarizes the impact of climate change on Navajo Nation lands and discusses factors that affect people’s vulnerabilities to climate impacts, and outlines a way for the region's residents to plan for ongoing environmental change.

Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change

On April 15 in Berlin, Germany, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change approved and released Working Group III's Fifth Assessment Report - a comprehensive assessment of all relevant options for mitigating climate change through limiting or preventing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as activities that remove them from the atmosphere.

Mapping the River Ahead

As the climate changes, critical challenges face water managers, farmers, public agencies and conservationists in the Colorado River Basin. A new report by Carpe Diem West Academy, in partnership with the Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy, University of Montana, documents the concerns of some Colorado River thought leaders and their ideas about potential solutions and paths ahead.

WMO Releases Annual Status of the Global Climate Report

The dramatic impact of climate variability and climate change continued to be felt all over the world throughout 2013.The World Meteorological Organization statement on the status of the global climate in 2013 provides a snapshot of global and regional trends in weather and climate over the past year and highlights some of the year’s most significant extreme events.

Mainstreaming Gender in Health Adaptation to Climate Change Programs

The World Health Organization has released a guide targeted towards program managers who work in climate change and health adaptation. It provides them with practical information and guidance designed to mainstream gender as projects move through different phases.

Atlas of Health & Climate

The Atlas of Health and Climate report was the product of collaboration between the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization. The report aims to provide sound scientific information on the connections between weather and climate and major health challenges.

Developing Climate Change Environmental Public Health Indicators

The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) released a guidance report to help local health departments leverage existing resources on climate change and public health indicators to make plans and decisions at the local level.

Climate Change: Evidence & Causes

A team of climate scientists from The National Academy of Sciences and The Royal Society have produced a new report for decision makers, policy makers, educators, and other individuals seeking authoritative information on climate science.

Navigating Change: Hawaii's Approach to Adaptation

A report based on the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) was recently presented to the President's Task Force for Climate Preparedness and Resilience. The report examines climate change impacts in Hawaii and also assesses the adaptive capacity of the Pacific Island communities.

Sensitivity Study Helps Salt Lake City Plan for the Future

A new study published in the journal Earth Interactions has found that rising temperatures challenge Salt Lake City’s water supply. The research shows that every degree Fahrenheit of warming in the Salt Lake City region could mean a 1.8 to 6.5 percent drop in the annual flow of streams that provide water to the city. The sensitivity study aimed to help the city, and others in the Intermountain West, plan for the future.

NOAA Releases Annual Climate Report

NOAA's National Climatic Data Center has released its climate report for 2013. According to the annual report, last year was warmer and wetter than average for the contiguous U.S. and 2013 marked the 21st wettest year of record for the nation and the wettest since 2009.

NCDC Releases Latest Regional Climate Impacts and Outlooks Reports

In late December, NOAA's National Climatic Data Center and its partners released regional climate impact assessments for the first quarter of 2014. The reports discuss the major climate events during the past three months and contain historical seasonal assessments as well as future climate outlooks.

USC Seagrant Outlines L.A.'s Vulnerability to Future Sea Level Rise

In anticipation of rising sea levels, a team from the University of Southern California Sea Grant partnered with the city of Los Angeles to gauge the impact of rising tides on local communities and infrastructure in order to protect at-risk assets through proactive planning and early identification of adaptation measures.

U.S. Submits 2014 Climate Action Report to UNFCCC

The U.S. Department of State has submitted its 2014 Climate Action Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report details actions the United States is taking domestically and internationally to mitigate, adapt to, and assist others in addressing climate change.

National Academies Report: Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change

Climate is changing, but how quickly? Will the changes be gradual, allowing natural systems and societal infrastructure to adjust in a timely fashion? Or will some of the changes be more abrupt, changing so fast that orderly adaptation is not possible? This report summarizes the current state of knowledge on potential abrupt changes to the ocean, atmosphere, ecosystems, and high latitude areas, and identifies key research and monitoring needs.

New York City updates sustainability plans with PlaNYC

In the wake of Sandy’s devastation, the city of New York announced PlaNYC – a long-term sustainability plan based on the latest climate science. The report includes ideas on how to rebuild the communities affected by the 2012 storm and how to increase resilience and infrastructure of buildings citywide in order to protect against future extreme events.

Oceans and Marine Resources in a Changing Climate

According to a new National Climate Assessment report, the nation's valuable ocean ecosystems and marine resources are being affected by a changing climate. These impacts are expected to increase in coming years, putting marine resources — and the people and economies that depend on them — at risk.

Climate Sensitivity of the Nation's Estuaries

The United States' 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) are experiencing negative effects of human and climate-related stressors, according to a new report from NOAA's National Ocean Service. This is the first national-scale climate sensitivity analysis of estuaries to help coastal managers protect the health of estuaries.

U.S. Energy Sector Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather

The U.S. Department of Energy released this report in July 2013 as part of the President's efforts to support planning for climate change & U.S. energy security. The report examines current and potential climate-related impacts on the energy sector and identifies activities to address these challenges.

The President's Climate Action Plan

In a speech at Georgetown University on June 25, President Obama announced a series of executive actions to reduce carbon pollution, prepare the United States for the impacts of climate change, and lead international efforts to address global climate change.

Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States

A part of the 2013 U.S. National Climate Assessment, this book gives an overview of the past, present, and projected future of the southwest region's climate, emphasizing new information and understandings since publication of the previous national assessment in 2009. It examines what climate and climate change mean for the health and well-being of human populations and the environment. The book looks at climate's effects on the region's watersheds and ecosystems, links between supply and demand of natural resources, and impacts on key sectors — such as water, agriculture, energy, and transportation. It also includes information on responses and preparedness to reduce vulnerabilities and improve resilience to extremes of weather and climate.

Metadata Access Tool for Climate and Health (MATCH)

The U.S. Global Change Research Program recently launched the Metadata Access Tool for Climate and Health (MATCH). The tool offers centralized access to metadata about thousands of government-held datasets related to human health, the environment, and climate science for researchers and decision makers. MATCH is easily searchable and browsable by topic, keyword, and region, allowing users to quickly find resources of interest and relevance, including monitoring and surveillance datasets, early warning systems, and tools for characterizing climate-related human health impacts.

Billion Dollar Weather & Climate Disasters

According to NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, 2012 saw 11 climate and weather disaster events, each with losses exceeding $1 billion in damages. This makes 2012 the 2nd costliest year since 1980, with a total of more than $110 billion in damages. Most of last year's damages came from Hurricane Sandy and the widespread drought. NCDC is the nation's scorekeeper in terms of placing extreme climate and weather events into historical perspective in this series of annual reports, dating back to 1980.

Pacific Islands Climate Education Partnership

This partnership has developed a detailed strategic plan to collaboratively improve climate knowledge among the region’s students and citizens in ways that exemplify modern science and indigenous environmental knowledge, address the urgency of climate change impacts, and honor indigenous cultures.

Climate Change and Pacific Islands: Indicators and Impacts

Climate Change and Pacific Islands: Indicators and Impacts is a report developed by the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) aimed at assessing the state of climate knowledge, impacts, and adaptive capacity of Hawaii and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands.

Global Hazards

The Global Hazards report created by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center provides monthly summary information about notable and significant weather and climate events around the world. These reports draw upon real-time information from external sources (international bodies, relief organizations, media reports) as it becomes available. When possible and appropriate, additional data analysis is performed to provide historical context for users.

Alaska Climate Webinar Archives

The Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy has an archive of all its webinars on a variety of climate issues in the Alaska and the Arctic. The webinar series is also ongoing with new speakers and topics scheduled regularly.

Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation

Extreme weather and climate events, interacting with exposed and vulnerable human and natural systems, can lead to disasters. This special report explores the social as well as physical dimensions of weather- and climate-related disasters, and considers opportunities for managing risks at local to international scales. This “SREX” report was approved and accepted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in November 2011.

Global Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the United States National Climate Assessment

Global sea level has been steadily rising for decades and is expected to continue. Scientists have very high confidence that global sea level will rise at least another 8 inches and as much as 6.6 feet by 2100, causing significant impacts in U.S. coastal regions. This report lays out the science and describes possible scenarios to help planners and policy leaders assess the risks.

2012 Arctic Report Card

The annual Report Card provides clear, concise scientific information on the state of the Arctic region, organized into 5 sections: Atmosphere, Sea Ice & Ocean, Marine Ecosystems, Terrestrial Ecosystems, and Hydrology & Terrestrial Cryosphere. This edition was prepared by an international team of 121 scientists from 14 different countries. Independent peer-review of the 2012 Report Card was organized by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme of the Arctic Council.

Highlights from 2012 include new records set for snow extent, sea ice extent and ice sheet surface melting, despite air temperatures - a key cause of melting - being unremarkable relative to the last decade. Multiple observations provide strong evidence of widespread, sustained change driving Arctic environmental system into new state.

When Every Drop Counts: Protecting Public Health During Drought Conditions—A Guide for Public Health Professionals

This publication, by the Centers for Disease Control, is intended to assist public health officials, practitioners, and other stakeholders in their efforts first to understand and then to prepare for drought in their communities. It provides information about how drought affects public health, recommends steps to help mitigate the health effects of drought, identifies future needs for research and other drought related activities, and provides a list of helpful resources and tools.

Special Reports on Extreme Climate Events

Some significant climate events are subject to a deeper analysis than is possible on the NOAA National Climatic Data Center's operational monitoring time scales. This section catalogs significant climate- and weather-related events from the late 1990s to the present. The catalog of Special Reports includes but is not limited to: hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, and flooding.

National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy

From the Arctic to the Everglades, impacts like rising sea levels, warmer temperatures, loss of sea ice, and changing precipitation patterns are affecting the species we care about, the services we value, and the places we call home. Federal, state, and tribal partners with input from many other diverse groups from across the nation have worked to develop a common strategy to respond to these challenges. The National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy is currently in draft form and, when finished, will provide a unified approach for reducing the negative impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, plants, and the natural systems upon which they depend.

Arctic Report Card: 2011

The annual Report Card provides clear, concise scientific information on the state of the Arctic region, organized into 5 sections: Atmosphere, Sea Ice & Ocean, Marine Ecosystems, Terrestrial Ecosystems, and Hydrology & Terrestrial Cryosphere. This edition was prepared by an international team of 121 scientists from 14 different countries. Independent peer-review of the 2011 Report Card was organized by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme of the Arctic Council.

Maine's Climate Future

A report that considers past change over geologic time, recent evidence of accelerated rates of change, and the implications of continued climate change in Maine during the 21st century as a result of greenhouse gas emissions and their associated pollutants.

Drought Impact Reporter

The National Drought Mitigation Center launched the Drought Impact Reporter (DIR) in July 2005 as the nation’s first comprehensive database of drought impacts. DIR collects and displays drought impact information for the U.S., providing researchers and interested members of the public with more context and detail on drought, as well as more readily summarized information.

Climate Change Impacts: Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries

A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change

The purpose of this 2010 National Institutes of Health publication is to identify research needs for all aspects of the research-to-decision making pathway that will help researchers and decision makers understand and mitigate the health effects of climate change as well as ensure that decision makers choose the healthiest and most efficient approaches to climate change adaptation.

Global Climate Change Impacts in the U.S. (Agriculture)

A chapter from the 2009 U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) report, titled Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, focused specifically on the intersections of climate and agriculture.

The Corn and Climate Report

An overview of climate science in service to farmers and agricultural producers in the Midwestern United States. This document, produced for non-specialists, summarizes the results of a workshop that brought together providers of weather and climate services and agricultural producers, agribusiness providers, and advisors from state agricultural extension networks to assess the latest scientific understanding of climate, variability, and change in the Midwest.

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States (2009)

Climate changes are underway in the United States and are projected to grow. Consequently, crops and livestock production will be increasingly challenged and threats to human health will increase. These are two key findings presented in this 2009 assessment report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The report gives an overview of climate-related issues and impacts for seven geographical regions and seven sectors of society.

A guide released by the National Wildlife Federation in 2011 for conservationists and resource managers to help them understand and assess the impact of climate change on species and ecosystems, including fisheries.

Thresholds of Climate Change in Ecosystems

An assessment of the potential for abrupt state changes or regime shifts in ecosystems in response to climate change. Better understanding of sudden changes to ecosystems, and the goods and services they provide, is extremely important if natural resource managers are to succeed in developing adaptation strategies.

Past Climate Variability and Change in the Arctic and at High Latitudes

Over the past 30 years, average temperatures in the Arctic have increased at almost twice the rate of the planet as a whole. Such temperature changes have been accompanied by shrinking sea ice, melting ice and permafrost on land, and widespread impacts to land and ocean ecosystems.

Climate Impacts on U.S. Living Marine Resources: National Marine Fisheries Service Concerns, Activities and Needs

Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources

A review of adaptation options for climate-sensitive ecosystems and resources in the United States. This report focuses on the following selected land management systems: National Forests, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Estuaries, and Marine Protected Areas.

Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate

An assessment in the state of knowledge concerning changes in weather and climate extremes in North America and U.S. territories. Changes in extreme weather and climate events have significant impacts and are among the most serious challenges to society in coping with a changing climate.

Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate

An assessment in the state of knowledge concerning changes in weather and climate extremes in North America and U.S. territories. Changes in extreme weather and climate events have significant impacts and are among the most serious challenges to society in coping with a changing climate.

The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States

An assessment of the effects of climate change on U.S. land resources, water resources, agriculture, and biodiversity. There is robust consensus that human-induced climate change is occurring. This report discusses the nation's ability to identify, observe, and monitor climate-related stresses that influence agriculture, land resources, water resources, and biodiversity.

As global temperatures increase, sea levels rise, and weather patterns change, the stewards of our Nation's infrastructure are challenged to consider how these changes may affect the country's roads, airports, rail, transit systems, and ports. This study focuses on potential impacts of climate change on human infrastructure in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.

Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems

A review of impacts of global climate change on three broad dimensions of the human condition: human health, human settlements, and human welfare. This report examines opportunities for adaptation and associated recommendations for addressing data gaps and near- and long-term research goals.

Effects of Climate Change on Energy Production and Use in the United States

This report summarizes the effects of climate change on energy production and use in the United States. It also identifies where research could reduce uncertainties about vulnerabilities, possible effects, and strategies to reduce negative effects and increase adaptive capacity.

Excessive Heat Events Guidebook

The Environmental Protection Agency produced this publication with assistance from federal, state, local, and academic partners. It is designed to help community officials, emergency managers, meteorologists, and others plan for and respond to excessive heat events. The Guidebook highlights best practices that have been employed to save lives during excessive heat events in different urban areas. Developed in partnership with NOAA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Guidebook provides a menu of options that officials can use to respond to these events in their communities. Municipal officials in both the U.S. and Canada also provided useful information that can be used to help the public cope with excessive heat.

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment

An international project of the Arctic Council and the International Arctic Science Committee, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment evaluates and synthesizes knowledge on climate variability, climate change, and increased ultraviolet radiation and their consequences for the Arctic region.